Cris Adams is a quiet woman who powerfully advocates for all things that will make St. Lucie County a better place for all of its residents to live, work, and play. And, in her typical “don’t draw attention to me” kind of way, she quietly stepped down from serving on the board of directors for the VIM/HANDS Clinic of St. Lucie County after more than eight years.

Adams, a founding board member, was instrumental in proving the need for the clinic, obtaining volunteers to organize the effort to open the clinic, and then continuing with her own commitment by serving on the board and participating in The Jewelia Project for the past three years.

“It would be hard pressed to find a more cooperative initiative and effort to get any non-profit open,” said Adams. “The first-of-its-kind partnerships and collaborations were and still are a remarkable coming-together of business owners, folks within the healthcare industry, and local government officials.”

After 21 years working at United Way of St. Lucie County, Adams also retired from her position as vice president of Community Impact. That’s where she experienced first-hand the need for an agency to offer free healthcare to this county’s most vulnerable population: those adults who are low-income and uninsured.

Adams also is known for her passion for Healthcote Botanical Gardens, where she has been involved for 20 years, currently as president of its board of directors. Her immersion in the non-profit sector of this community has given her an understanding of both sides of the track, so to speak. It’s Adams’ ability to see the needs of both staff and volunteers that makes her a valuable tool to all efforts towards working for the greater good.

Adams jumped on the opportunity to involve herself in The Jewelia Project, the fundraising arm of the VIM/HANDS Clinic, saying, “It’s been an opportunity to support the clinic on a personal level in conjunction with some very special women.”

Always thinking ahead of the curve, Adams’ very unusual fundraiser as Jewelia’s Ms. November 2015 combined her two passions when she hosted her Fruitcake Frolic event to benefit the clinic at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce.

When she’s not busy making aprons to sell in the gardens’ gift shop, Adams is a member of the Port St. Lucie Business Women, and oversees the Social Work Internship program at Mustard Seed Ministries. Embarking on a new goal as a member of the organizing committee for St. Lucie County’s Impact 100, Adams will be one of 100 women coming together and changing lives with impact grants.

For more information about the VIM/HANDS Clinic, visit handsofslc.org. To learn more about The Jewelia Project, visit thejeweliaproject.org. And, to learn more about Impact 100, call Cris at 772-284-2542.

Have a 'star' volunteer you would like to recognize?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of most nonprofit organizations across the Treasure Coast.

Many have individuals who always seem to go above and beyond to not only help their group, but also to enrich the lives of the people these organizations serve.

Shine the spotlight on these extraordinary volunteers by nominating them for recognition as a Luminaries Star Volunteer. We will run their profiles in Luminaries online and in print.

Go to tcpalm.com/Luminaries and click on the form Luminaries Star Volunteer.